Knowledge. Experience. Expertise. — Key qualities Dr. Zervopoulos draws on to review and critique mental health materials and then translate the findings into a legal framework that guides case preparation, focuses examinations of experts, and sharpens court arguments.
Knowledge
- J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law: December 1993.
Licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Texas: May 1994. - Ph.D. in Counseling-Clinical Psychology from the University of North Texas: December 1981.
Licensed to practice psychology in Texas: January 1983. - Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP): November 2002.
- Training in the Advanced Mediation Workshop in the Program of Instruction for Lawyers, Harvard Law School: June 2004.
- B.A. in Psychology from Wheaton College (IL): June 1974.
Experience
- Conducted psychological evaluations, counseling, and mediation in more than 400 court-appointed forensic cases since 1982. Qualified as an expert witness in more than 100 cases.
- Evaluated a broad range of challenging psychology-related concerns in family law cases, including posttraumatic stress disorder; abuse-related issues; domestic violence allegations; alienation accusations; parent relocation cases; and parent-child access schedules.
- Consulted with lawyers in civil law cases involving emotional damages allegations that included discrimination accusations, sexual harassment allegations, and posttraumatic stress disorder claims.
- Written several hundred forensic evaluation reports that have been admitted into evidence or used by lawyers for settlement purposes.
- Member, American Psychological Association Committee on Professional Practice and Standards, which reviews and drafts APA professional practice guidelines: 2009–2011.
Expertise
- Developed the Frye-Daubert Analysis Model, a four-step caselaw-based tool that enables lawyers to organize mental health information, structure their direct- and cross-examinations, and provide the court a roadmap for Frye or Daubert evidence challenges.
- Authored Confronting Mental Health Evidence: A Practical Guide to Reliability and Experts in Family Law (published by the American Bar Association, 2008).
- Published numerous articles, papers, and columns for lawyers on a broad range of issues addressing psychological evidence, expert testimony, and forensic psychology practice.
- Clinical Asst. Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
- Frequent speaker and conference presenter to lawyers and mental health professionals on psychological evidence issues, expert testimony, forensic psychology assessment, and mental health licensing board concerns.